Spectrum Lake is located within Monashee Provincial Park. This hike is the perfect first time backpacking trip. From the parking lot to Spectrum Lake, the trail is 6km with 270 metres of elevation gain. The return trip is 6km with 100 metres of elevation gain. The trail is well maintained. It takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Spectrum Lake is nestled among beautiful mountains. The campsites are spread around the shore. There is a group camping area and individual campsites. The cam

Fatdog 120 is an ultramarathon that traverses through Manning Park in British Columbia. There are four different distances (e.g., 120 miles, 100km, 50 miles and 40 miles). On this day, I ran the 100km distance. The 100km course gains 4400 metres of elevation. The Route The course follows along Cayuse flats, Hope Pass trail, Heather trail, Blackwell road, Little Muddy trail, Strawberry Flats, Lightning lakes trail, and Skyline 1 trail. It's a very scenic course. The Race Unfo

The trail from Nissen Bight to the parking lot and San Joseph Bay is the central path through the park. The trail passes by Fisherman River Campsite and Eric Lake Campsite. Fisherman River Campsite is peaceful; however, there are plenty of mosquitos at Eric Lake. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Nissen Bight to San Joseph Bay There were many seagulls gathered on the beach in the morning. For those travelling from west to east, this s

For many people, Nissen Bight is the dividing line between the NCT and Cape Scott Trails in the Park. With the arrival of day five, Nissen Bight signalled the end of our hike on the NCT. From Nissen Bight, we hiked to San Joseph Bay for our final night in the park. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Laura Creek to Nissen Bight On the way to retrieve our food from the locker, we encountered a black bear feeding on sand flies in the kel

Along the beaches of this area, Black and tan volcanic rocks speak to the ancient history of this area. You'll see sea stacks and fascinating rock formations. You'll likely see eagles, many different sea birds, and bear. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Irony Creek to Laura Creek With the low tide, we enjoyed walking along the expansive sandy beach. Most of the route follows the shoreline; however, there are a few ventures inland. Alo

Cape Scott Provincial Park is wild; however, it is not untouched. First Nations have inhabited that Cape Scott Region for millennia. Their culture and spiritual ties to this land are maintained to this day. Alongside human history and culture, the beaches of Cape Scott serve to remind hikers of our global relatedness. While you'll see spectacular vistas, you'll encounter many plastic items scattered on the beaches. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. B

Cape Scott Provincial Park is remote and wild. Having hiked the West Coast Trail in the late 90s, the North Coast Trail feels like stepping back in time. There are still opportunities to find your group alone on a spectacular beach. For long stretches of the hike, you won't see anyone else. Reference: Cape Scott and the North Coast Trail by Maria U. Bremner (2015) Skinner Creek to Cape Sutil After a restful sleep and breakfast, we hiked along the beach toward the next inland

The North Coast Trail (NCT) is a 43km challenging trail in Cape Scott Provincial Park located on northern end of Vancouver Island. Most people combine the NCT with the Cape Scott Trail to end their hike in San Joseph Bay (i.e., 58km total) On average, people hike the trail in approximately six to eight days. The trail traverses inland through coastal forest and along expansive shorelines. The route includes plenty of inland bog, rope climbs, rocky beaches, and sandy beaches.

The Frosty Mountain Ultra is an event in Manning Provincial Park. There are three distances (i.e., 13km, 27km and 50km). The race route is scenic with abundant beautiful views. The Route - Frosty Mountain Ultra Beginning at the Lightning Lakes day use area, the route ascends partway up Windy Joe Peak then traverses over the shoulder of Frosty Mountain. From there, the route descends back to the Lightning Lakes area. Going around Lightning Lake, the route ascends Skyline 1 tra

At 2,380 metres, Sunny Peak is located in the Pinnacle Hiking area in the southern Monashee Mountains. Unlike some of the surrounding mountains, it does not have any permanent snow or small glaciers. The views from Sunny Peak are spectacular. The Hike Begin by driving to the trail-head for Monashee Lake (see South Pinnacle Traverse for details). From Monashee Lake, I could see the Middle Pinnacle (centre of the photo below). To reach Sunny Peak, I traversed around the left si

Strike Lake is located in Manning Provincial Park. The Strike Lake campground sits beyond the end of the lake. The campground has a pit toilet, bear cache, fire pits, and several sites. Recently, there are new wooden tent platforms for each site. The campground is nestled in a shaded area among the trees. While water is readily available in the early season, it dries out by the fall. On our trip, we walked back to Strike Lake to get water. The Hike Beginning at Birch Bay Park

Twin Lakes are nestled below Boulder Mountain in the Pinnacle Hiking Area in the Monashee Mountains. Twin Lakes are a popular spot for hikers and backpackers who want to enjoy the alpine wilderness. The Hike To reach Twin Lakes, we drove toward Cherryville, passing Frank's Store and Sugar Lake road. We continued along Highway 6 until we got to the North Fork road. We continued along North Fork road then made a left turn onto North Fork Forest Service road. We continued along

The Iceline trail is one of the most scenic hikes within Yoho National Park. Along the way, you'll see many glaciers, waterfalls, tarns, alpine flora and fauna. Yoho National Park is vast with many sights and sounds. The Hike Beginning from Yoho Lake, the trail ascends through pine forest emerging into alpine amidst the remnants of glacial moraines. Flowers grow among the rocks. We saw the extensive rocky areas revealed by the receding glaciers. Even in the summer months, it

Carry Peak is south of Coquihalla Mountain nearby the Coquihalla Recreation Area. For those who have visited Coquihalla Mountain, Jim Kelly Peak and others, Carry Peak is an enjoyable destination. The long ridge from Coquihalla Mountain to Carry Peak provides many opportunities for exploration. The Hike Beginning at the tarn nearby Jim Kelly Peak, I followed the trail to the southern ridge leading to the west summit of Coquihalla Mountain. Instead of ascending the ridge, I t

Mount Beaven is located in the Monashee mountains in the Pinnacle Hiking area. From the ridge to Mount Beaven, you can see many surrounding mountains like the North Pinnacle and Mount Severide. The Hike To reach the trail-head, drive toward Cherryville, BC onward to the South Fork Forest Service Road (FSR). In recent years, be aware that the start of the FSR has been rerouted further south. The drive to the trail-head is straightforward; during the weekdays, there may be logg

Yoho Lake is slightly over 4km (8km return) in Yoho National Park. The trail climbs steadily from the trail-head to the lake. However, it never really feels too difficult. While hiking the trail, you can enjoy views of Takakkaw Falls, beautiful flowers, a spectacular lake, Mount Wapta and, possibly, wildlife. Once at Yoho Lake, you'll find campsites, picnic style tables, bear cache, and outhouses. The Hike Beginning at the Whiskey Jack Hostel parking lot, the trail ascends th

Snow Camp mountain and Lone Goat mountain are located in Manning Provincial Park. Camp Mowich offers camp sites, outhouse, and a bear cache. Availability of water is seasonal; you may want to check recent trip reports. From Camp Mowich, Hozameen Ridge trail leads to Hozomeen Mountain with its twin summits. The Hike Beginning at the parking lot for Strawberry Flats, I hiked along the Skyline trail toward Snow Camp Mountain. The trail is well-established and very easy to follow

Vista Pass is at the southern end of the Pinnacles in the southern Monashee mountains. The pass provides panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and peaks. In the photo below, you can see the south-face of the South Pinnacle (left side). The Hike To reach the trail-head, drive toward Cherryville, BC onward to the South Fork Forest Service Road (FSR). In recent years, be aware that the start of the FSR has been rerouted further south. The drive to the trail-head is straig

Beginning at the parking lot for the Mosquito Creek Wilderness Hostel, this hike ascends up the Mosquito Valley. With brief views of nearby mountains, the trail will lead you alongside Mosquito Creek. Continuing along the trail, you'll arrive at Mosquito Creek Mo5 Campground. This is a place for an overnight or a rest stop for lunch. There are picnic tables and pit toilets. From the campground, you can make your way further up the valley or, by backtracking a short distance,

Zupjok, Llama and Alpaca Traverse follows a ridge connecting three peaks in the Coquihalla Recreation Area. This traverse is a day hike that provides panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, you can see many of the peaks and mountains (e.g., Coquihalla Mountain, Needle Peak, Vicuna, Ibex, Steinbok, and many more). After arriving at the summit of Zupjok Peak, you can see the route beyond. The trail follows the crest of the ridge to the distant peak (left s